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I got a first world problem that I may need some help on over the next while. The wifey and I just put an offer in on this place in Bonaire, It will be a winter home, so we will live there some 5-7 months a year. We were just there this last two weeks on a Windsurfing trip and fell in love with the Island once again. We have been there before. The place/location we put the offer in on is kinda nice, as you can see by the pics. However, it has no f-ing garage. It was designed and built by a European dude in 2014, which I am fully OK with, it is built very well. But WTF you build a place like that and you leave your cars/motorbikes mostly out in the sun?? That stupid canvas cover over the existing car-port would protect diddley-squat. Now I do not plan on having any real ‘fancy’ cars there, the local roads are mostly crap. It will be a small/medium SUV with either an HD 883 Sporty, or more likely a Vespa, or two, GTS/GTV 300 would housed in the garage. We have two options on where to build, one is the pad below the Canvas cover as seen in one of the pics, and the other option is more complex, but doable. If you look at the picture of the place from the water, on the left you see an opening that could house a good sized two car garage, it would need to be cantalivered over the bank. But if you put a window wall opposite the door, your view driving in to the garage would be be 100% of the Carabbean Sea. So I ain’t going for the biggest or fanciest garage here, my RL friends have clearly got me beat on that front. But I may go for the best drive in view.
Existing Car-Port
The Red Box to the left of the house is a second option for a 2 car garage. The pic does not show it well but lots of room to build a 30’ wide x 25’ deep garage that would still be well back from the actual house
Looks amazing! Almost like a render. If you do VRBO it, please PM
^^ Thanks, we are down staying in the house right now. I’m on one of the front decks as I write this, having a ‘conversation’ with a very talkative local bird who has already figured out my breakfast routine and seems to very much like my left over toast bits. The Garage project should get under way in the next two weeks, and take about 3 months to build. Due to lot size constraints and a 2m (just over 6’) setback law it is smaller than I had hoped. So it will end up as a small 2 car, or a nice size for 1 car/SUV and a scoot. It is being built to Miami/Dade Hurricane standards, as is the house. Bonaire has never had a direct hit, it is considered too far south, but I say why take chances. The Garage is going where the existing car-port is located. Right now we are not renting, but we may change our minds as we move along, if we do I would post it on RL.
^^ Thanks, we are down staying in the house right now. I’m on one of the front decks as I write this, having a ‘conversation’ with a very talkative local bird who has already figured out my breakfast routine and seems to very much like my left over toast bits. The Garage project should get under way in the next two weeks, and take about 3 months to build. Due to lot size constraints and a 2m (just over 6’) setback law it is smaller than I had hoped. So it will end up as a small 2 car, or a nice size for 1 car/SUV and a scoot. It is being built to Miami/Dade Hurricane standards, as is the house. Bonaire has never had a direct hit, it is considered too far south, but I say why take chances. The Garage is going where the existing car-port is located. Right now we are not renting, but we may change our minds as we move along, if we do I would post it on RL.
I would gladly rent that from you for a week or two with a sizable deposit and leave it perfectly spotless, I promise!
I'm almost more in love with that setup than the garages here.
I am not importing any ‘nice’ cars to my new Bonaire Garage, those I will keep back ‘home’ in dry Canada. I am just renting an SUV now, and will be buying a new ‘run of the mill’ SUV once the Garage is done. There are some local car dealers that sell the normal Chev/Ford/Toyota etc lines, that is way I wil go. The roads here are also mostly crap, but I have seen a few P-Cars along with some newer Mercs on the roads in the last week.
LOL, on the free rent. Yes, and the 2 wine fridges are also full of free 95+ rated wines from around the world. The pool side bar is stocked with the finest KY Bourbons and Single Malts. But on the down-side the pool side ice maker is on the fritz so you will have to go upstairs to get an ice-bucket refill. Life’s a bitch.
I think we should should go ahead and give the Florida garage the trophy. This is the best picture on this thread. Dont change a thing and let that old building keep gathering patina !
Finally moved the first 3 cars in and soon I can start transporting some nice cars in. Still finishing various items in the shop --> My Made in Chino California exterior lights...
05-24-2018, 07:58 PM
However, it has no f-ing garage. It was designed and built by a European dude in 2014, which I am fully OK with, it is built very well. But WTF you build a place like that and you leave your cars/motorbikes mostly out in the sun?? That stupid canvas cover over the existing car-port would protect diddley-squat. Now I do not plan on having any real ‘fancy’ cars there, the local roads are mostly crap. It will be a small/medium SUV with either an HD 883 Sporty, or more likely a Vespa, or two, GTS/GTV 300 would housed in the garage. We have two options on where to build, one is the pad below the Canvas cover as seen in one of the pics, and the other option is more complex, but doable. If you look at the picture of the place from the water, on the left you see an opening that could house a good sized two car garage, it would need to be cantalivered over the bank. But if you put a window wall opposite the door, your view driving in to the garage would be be 100% of the Carabbean Sea. So I ain’t going for the biggest or fanciest garage here, my RL friends have clearly got me beat on that front. But I may go for the best drive in view. 
